Plate and Frame Filter Press

CEDELYN L. INTANO

BS Chemical Engineering

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Chemical Engineering

Cebu Institute of Technology – University, N. Bacalso Ave. Cebu City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

Filter press operates under pressure using the process of cake filtration. This involves
sending the slurry through the press, which is equipped with filter cloths. The cloths pick up
the particles in the slurry and allow the solvent to pass through. As more slurry moves
through the press, the cake builds up and assists the filtration process. The rate at which the
slurry moves through the press depends on the viscosity of the liquid, the thickness and the
resistance of the cake and the pressure drop across each place. Positive displacement pump
permits the plate-and-frame filter to be fed with a suspension at either a uniform rate or by
adjusting a bypass valve, with a constant pressure.
I. Introduction

Filter press operates under pressure using the process of cake filtration. This
involves sending the slurry through the press, which is equipped with filter cloths. The
cloths pick up the particles in the slurry and allow the solvent to pass through. As more
slurry moves through the press, the cake builds up and assists the filtration process. The
rate at which the slurry moves through the press depends on the viscosity of the liquid,
the thickness and the resistance of the cake and the pressure drop across each place.
Positive displacement pump permits the plate-and-frame filter to be fed with a suspension
at either a uniform rate or by adjusting a bypass valve, with a constant pressure.

As the filtration proceeds, layers of solids build up in the frame while the filtrate
passes through the press. However, as more and more solid builds up in the frame,
filtration becomes slower and slower. When a sufficient thickness of solids or cake has
built up in the frames, filtration is stopped, the press is dismantled and the cake is
removed from the frames. The resistance of the cake increases with time as the cake is
removed from the frames. The resistance of the cake increases with time as the cake
builds up in the frame, it becomes harder to force the filtrate through the cake, as the cake
becomes thicker. At any time, this resistance to the flow of filtrate is proportional to the
volume of filtrate that has passed through the cake.

II. Materials, Apparatus, and Equipment

Plate and Frame Filter Press Equipment, water, and calcium carbonate

III. Methodology

Each filter sheet was weighed and recorded. The plate and frame filter press was
assembled. The filter frames and filter plates were mounted properly one after the other in
an alternate order. Nine liters of slurry containing 10% by weight of CaCO3 and 90% by
weight water was prepared. The feed tank was filled with the predetermined quantity of
slurry and was stirred thoroughly. The filter press was tightened by screwing the movable
head to assure leak proof operation. The pressure and control valves were opened. The
pump was switched on while the slurry was being stirred. The volume of the filtrate was
monitored using a 1-L graduated cylinder at a convenient time interval the switch of the
pump was turned off when the slurry from the feed tank was already consumed. It
 signified that the filtration is complete. The filter cake in the filter press was allowed to
dry. When the filter cake was dry enough, the filter sheets with the filter cake were
removed. The filter sheets with the filter cake were dried and the weight of the dried cake
was noted. The procedures were repeated using 20% by weight CaCO3.

IV. Data and Results

Table I. Test Run Data using Problem 14.2-1 and 14.2-4.

Filtrate Volume, V (m3) Time, t (sec) t/V (s/m3)

0.0005 17.3 34600
0.001 41.3 41300
0.0015 72 48000
0.002 108.3 54150
0.0025 152 60800
0.003 201.7 67233.333

Figure II. Determination of Constants in a Constant Pressure Filtration Experiment.

80000
70000
60000
t/V (s/m3)

50000
40000
t/V = 13.03*106V + 28232
30000
R² = 0.9999
20000
10000
0
0 0.0005 0.001 0.0015 0.002 0.0025 0.003 0.0035
V (m3)

𝑡 𝐾𝑝
= 𝑉+𝐵
𝑉 2
𝐾𝑝
= 13.03 × 106 𝐾𝑝 = 26.06 × 106 𝑠⁄𝑚6 𝐵 = 28232 𝑠⁄𝑚3
2

𝛼 = 1.106 × 1011 𝑚⁄𝑘𝑔 𝑅𝑚 = 6.40 × 1010 𝑚−1

 V. Discussion and Conclusion

High resistance of a filter medium to fluid flow is a problem affecting many

industries. The smaller the thickness of the filter media the more the pressure and porosity
measurements appear impractical. The weight and the volume of the cake are needed in
order to calculate for the concentration of filtrate. As the concentration increases, the
length of time to collect a certain volume of filtrate also increases. As seen on the data,
the relationship between the volumes of filtrate versus time per volume of filtrate
produces a linear plot.

VI. References

 Geankoplis, Transport Processes and Unit Operations. John Wiley & Sons

APPENDIX

𝜇 𝛼 𝐶𝑠 (26.06×106 )(0.0439)2 (46.20×103 )

𝐾𝑝 = 2 𝛼= (8.937×10−4 )(23.47)
= 1.106 × 1011 𝑚⁄𝑘𝑔
𝐴 (−∆𝑝)
𝑅𝑚 𝜇
𝐵= 𝑅𝑚 = 6.40 × 1010 𝑚−1
𝐴 (−∆𝑝)

Area = 30 frames (0.873 m3/frame) = 26.19 m2

Volume = 2.26 m3 filtrate
V of wash water = 0.283 m3

𝑡 𝐾𝑝
= 𝑉 + 𝐵; using this equation in order to solve for new Kp and B.
𝑉 2
New Kp = 72.86 s/m6
New B = 47.44 s/m3
New t = 293.3 s
𝑑𝑉 1
( ) = ; using this equation in order to solve tw and substituting values
𝑑𝑡 𝑓 4 𝐾𝑝 𝑉𝑓 + 𝐵

tw= 240.10 s
ttotal= 293.3/60 +240.10/60 + 30.0 = 38.89 min